Kiss, Def Leppard pair up for summer tour

MESFIN FEKADUAP Music Writer Published: March 17, 2014 12:30 PM

NEW YORK (AP) -- Kiss and Def Leppard are joining forces for a summer tour.

The legendary bands will embark on a U.S. tour June 23 in West Valley City, Utah. They will play more than 40 dates, including Los Angeles; Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; Atlanta; and Tampa, Fla. The tour wraps Aug. 31 in Woodlands, Texas.

Tickets go on sale Friday.

"You have two bands who to one degree or another have stood the test of time and put them together and you'll have a great night of music," said Paul Stanley of Kiss in an interview. "We're living in a time now where everyone wants more for their money, and that's understandable. So, when you can get two bands to collaborate together, we couldn't pick a better band for this tour than Def Leppard to go out with us."

Def Leppard's Joe Elliott said it's not likely the two bands will perform together.

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"We're not jam bands either of us," Elliott said in an interview from Dublin. "It's very theatrical what Kiss does to a lesser extent obviously 'cause we don't do the makeup thing, our show runs like a military operation for sure. It's not like the Grateful Dead and Phish touring or something."

Kiss and Def Leppard are partnering with various military companies for the tour to support U.S. troops, including the United Service Organizations Inc. and Hiring Our Heroes.

Kiss will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month. This year marks Kiss' 40th anniversary.

Elliott will release a new album with his band Down 'N' Outz called "The Further Adventures Of..." on April 21. He said Def Leppard recently went into the studio to write new music.